Best of Chicago: Part 3 – Bulls

In part three of the five-part series examining the four best teams in each of Chicago’s major sports franchises, it’s time to discuss the Bulls.

Shocked or not shocked, all four of these teams come from the Dynasty 90’s. Definitely not shocked you will be at number one as it’s the best team in NBA history. 

Number four: 1991-92 Bulls

Coming off an NBA title against the Lakers, and a playoffs in which the team went 15-2, there were high expectations for the 91-92 squad.

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen didn’t disappoint as they took the team to 67 wins throughout the regular season. The team was nearly unbeatable at Chicago Stadium as they went 36-5 during the season, but weren’t too shabby on the road winning 31 games.

The Cleveland Cavaliers sure didn’t make it easy, despite losing the division by 10 games; the Bulls 22-6 in-division record only beat Cleveland by a game.

After sweeping Miami in three games, the Bulls dropped the opening game against the Knicks in Chicago. BJ Armstrong, however, went for 18 points in game two to tie the series up before the Bulls would eventually win in seven because of Jordan and Pippen being themselves.

The conference finals with the Cavs would go back and forth the first four games, with three of the contests being decided by double digits. The Bulls regained home-court advantage after a 13-point victory in game five before disposing the division-foe in game six to take on the West’s one-seed Portland in the Finals.

Because of the Finals’ 2-3-2 series change from 2-2-1-1-1, the Bulls – after splitting the first two games – had to travel to Portland for three games straight. The Bulls won game three and five to head back to Chicago up 3-2. After being all but forced to play a game seven, Pippen charged the team and led them back from a 15-point deficit to win back-to-back NBA Finals.

Michael Jordan was named the league’s MVP and Finals MVP, along with All-NBA first team and All-Defensive first team. Scottie Pippen was named to All-Defensive first team, including All-NBA second team. MJ averaged 30.1 ppg, 6.4 rbg, 6.1 apg, 2.3 spg, and nearly one bpg. Pippen averaged 21 ppg, along with 7.7 rpg and seven apg.

Horace Grant averaged a double-double on the season with 14 and 10. Seven players averaged at least seven points per game, and four players averaged at least three assists per game.

Number three: 1997-98 Bulls

It was the end of an era, but boy did they leave a lasting legacy.

Coming off back-to-back NBA titles, and five in the last seven seasons, the Bulls came into the 97-98 season with an aging core.  Pippen was 32, Jordan was 34, and newcomer (to the second three-peat) Dennis Rodman was 36.

Pressure didn’t matter to this team. Coming off a 72-win season two years prior, which followed up with a 69-win year, it was obvious by the law of averages the team would continue to drop in win totals. Nonetheless, the Bulls ended up winning 62 games (still a ton, and fourth most out of the six Bulls title teams.

Despite winning 62 games, the Bulls only won the Central Division by four games over the Indiana Pacers after only losing four games at the United Center throughout the season.

Chicago took care of business again in the first round, this time sweeping New Jersey 3-0. Then the Bulls played Charlotte (ironic? No? Ok.) and finished them off in five.

The Pacers showed the Bulls they weren’t messing around in the conference semi’s as they took them to seven games. Fortunately for the Bulls, they weren’t messing around either and were heading to the Finals for the sixth time in eight years.

After defeating the Utah Jazz in six games the year prior, the Bulls maintained their reputation for not allowing Finals series to go to seven games. Once again, the Bulls dropped the Jazz in six to call the 90’s Dynasty a wrap.

MJ only averaged 28.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 3.5 apg. Coming back mid-season, Pippen basically 19/5/6, while Rodman pulled down 15 boards per game. Kukoc and Longley contributed 13 and 11 per game, respectively, while Kerr shot nearly 45% from three-point range.

With the age of their core players, the Bulls still was the best team in the NBA before Jordan called it a career…again. After the Finals – along with MJ’s second retirement – Pippen, Rodman, and Phil Jackson left Chicago. This resulted in a 49-loss jump, proving how valuable and great that group of guys really were.

Number two: 1996-97 Bulls

What does a team do after winning 72 games the year before, and only lost three games in the playoffs? Well this team won 69 games and only lost four games in the playoffs. Not too bad.

With virtually the same team from the season before, the Bulls won the Central Division by 13 games over Atlanta after going a staggering 39-2 at the United Center.

The Bulls hosted the 44-win Washington Bullets in the first round and finished them off in three games. After winning the first game against Atlanta in the second round, the Hawks rallied to win game two. The Bulls would then win three straight to end Atlanta’s season.

As the two-seed, the Miami Heat hoped to give the Bulls a series. Chicago jumped to a 3-0 series lead before the Heat managed to win game four in Miami. The Bulls would defeat the Heat in game five at the United Center to end the low-scoring series. As the one-seed in the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz ran through the first three rounds to play the Bulls in the Finals.

The Bulls would go on to win the first two games at home, but then immediately dropped the first two in Utah to see a 2-2 series tie. With game five being in Utah, it appeared to be a must-win for the Jazz so they wouldn’t go down 3-2 back to Chicago.

Suffering from massive food poisoning, Jordan was told not to play, limited the Bulls chances of stealing a game in Utah. Three hours prior to tip-off, Jordan rose from his bed and went to the arena. After a slow start, he erupted for 38 points and seven rebounds to lead the destined-team back home for game six, where they would hoist the trophy for back-to-back seasons.

Averaging nearly 30 ppg, Jordan also averaged nearly six rebounds per contest. Pippen added 20 per game, while Kukoc had 13. Steve Kerr shot over 46% from three-point range.

Number one: 1995-96 Bulls

Is there even an argument? The team won 72 games.

Dennis Rodman joined the Bulls after Michael Jordan came out retirement from baseball. With Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson still there, the team was automatically one of the favorites in the league, especially after winning 55 and 47 games the previous two seasons.

The Bulls’ run was magical. Only starting 5-0, the team lost its first game of the season. After the November 26 loss to Seattle, the Bulls won 13 straight until they lost to Indiana a month after their previous loss.

After going undefeated in the month of January, the Bulls dropped back-to-back games to Denver and Phoenix on the road. They lost three games the final month of the season to finish the year 72-10 and won their division by 20 games.

After a sweep of Miami in the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls got up 2-0 on the Knicks in the conference semi’s. Dropping game three, the Bulls recovered to win game four, and with help from double-doubles from Pippen and Rodman, they won game five to head to the conference finals.

After beating the Orlando Magic 3-1 in the regular season, the Bulls showed no mercy in game one defeating them by 38 points. The Magic didn’t stand a chance the next three games as Chicago used that momentum to make a run at their first NBA title since 1992-93.

The Seattle Supersonics won 64 games that season, and split the season series against the Bulls 1-1. Jordan and Rodman quickly got the Bulls up 3-0 in the Finals, before Seattle snuck away with games four and five. Returning home for game six, the Bulls took home their fourth NBA championship, which would prove to be the beginning of another three-peat.

The Bulls held opponents to under 93 points per game, while scoring over 105 per game. Led by Jordan’s 30.4 ppg, Rodman averaged nearly 15 boards per game. Steve Kerr shot 51.5% from three-point range on 237 attempts.

Jordan won the MVP of the league, while he and Pippen were named to the All-NBA first team. MJ, Pippen, and Rodman all were honored with All-Defensive first team accolades.

It’s hard to argue, but do you agree with who the best teams (at least 2-4) I have named for the Chicago Bulls organization? Combined, the Bulls defeated five different teams in the NBA Finals during their run, and never went to a game seven in the Finals itself.

Tomorrow, I go over the Cubs and will conclude Thursday with the White Sox.